Alan Cumming

LIFE IS A CABARET—AGAIN Alan Cumming, photographed in the Kit Kat Klub at Studio 54, New York City.

The Good Wife’s Eli Gold is not the first slick cynic Alan Cumming has played. As the master of ceremonies in the 1998 revival of Cabaret, he won a Tony—as well as the heart of the legend who immortalized Sally Bowles on-screen in 1972. Liza Minnelli heralds the Kit Kat Klub’s return to Broadway, with Cumming M.C.-ing again.

I met Alan Cumming when Fred Ebb took me to see him in Cabaret in 1998. I fell in love with him—as an actor, I think! That was the second Broadway revival of Cabaret (the first was in 1987), and it was directed by Sam Mendes, with Rob Marshall doing the choreography. After opening at Henry Miller’s Theatre, the show transferred to Studio 54, which had an echo for me because, well, back in the day I did spend some time there. That was the 70s, when I had the good fortune to play Sally Bowles in Bob Fosse’s movie. Nineteen seventy-two. I loved Fred and John Kander, who wrote the lyrics and music, of course, and I was thrilled when I found out that I had been cast and that Fosse was going to direct. I thought, Oh God, that’s so great. It meant a good part. Something to create. The whole look of Sally, with the eyelashes and the hair, was mine. When I knocked on Fosse’s door and said, “What do you think?” he said, “Uh, uh, uh, it’s great.” Alan did that, too—created a whole new look for the Emcee. Rouge on his nipples! And those suspenders! He was completely different, but instantly charming. I adore him. And when he called and asked me to do a show with him out on Fire Island in 2012, I said, “O.K.!” It was that simple. I hadn’t been to Fire Island since the 70s. We did songs from Cabaret because that’s what brought us together. It was exciting. You never know what Alan is going to do, then he does it—and he’s absolutely right. We reprised our show last year at Town Hall, in New York City. It was a little more formal, a little more planned out, but working with him was still a dream—a dream I can’t wait to have again. He’s irresistible. Anyway, the 1998 production of Cabaret, by Sam and Rob, is coming back to Broadway this month. With Alan! And with no less than Michelle Williams, who’s always so beautiful on the big screen, as Sally. Just like last time, Studio 54 will be turned into the Kit Kat Klub. And I will be there opening night.